Suggestions for the living ordinance recommend interviews for first-time temple goers

12 March 2021

President,

Helping members going to the tempe for the first time is one of the stake president’s greatest joys and challenges.

Usually they’ve come with a lot of wonder, fears and some times misconceptions—well-mean friends telling them that it’s REALLY different!

Our role is to remove their fears and help them know it’ll be a joyous experience. You’ll know if you’ve done a good job if at the end of your interview they say something like, “I’m excited to go!”

I hope the attached description of the questions and discussions I used might help. I’m not suggesting you go down the list, but you may find some of these ideas resonate with you.

I’ll also share the Google doc with you so you can create your own, if you want.

Hope it helps,
Crismon

Living Ordinance Recommend Interview:

Suggestions for the first-time endowment

The following are some thoughts on how, during the Temple Recommend interview, the stake president can introduce first-time temple goers on the purpose of the temple ordinances and what to expect.

Before entering the Temple...

What you should know

• ●  Some say the temple is a different experience. One reason is that this is an ancient ceremony brought forth into modern times so naturally it’s different—but not weird.

• ●  Even though clothing is used in the ceremony, you will never be immodest.

• ●  You will never be put in a position where you will be embarrassed or uncomfortable;

  you’ll always have someone next to you who will guide you and explain what to do.

• ●  Once inside the temple you can ask all the questions you want—there are no secrets—

  though sometimes the answer is to simply go back to the temple often and ask the Lord.

  What you should do

• ●  If you haven’t done so already, (a) schedule an appointment with the temple, (b) select and invite an escort, and (c) invite the number of people allowed to accompany you.

• ●  Purchase at least one pair of garments (we suggest you don’t get a lot at first so you can try on different styles and textures).

  Support Materials to Review:

  The Church provides excellent preparatory materials on www.ChurchofJesusChrist.org such as:

• ●  Overview of resources: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples?lang=eng

• ●  How to make your experience more meaningful:

  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/prepare-for-your-temple-visit?lang=eng

• ●  About the temple endowment:

  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/what-is-temple-endowment?lang=eng

• ●  Personal preparation for temple blessings by Elder Russell M. Nelson:

  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2001/04/personal-prepara

  tion-for-temple-blessings?lang=eng

• ●  Prophets provide an overview of all the temple ordinances:

  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/prophetic-teachings-on-temples?lang=eng

• ●  Sacred temple clothing video (4:12 min):

  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/sacred-temple-clothing?lang=eng

• ●  Room-by-room tour of the Rome Italy Temple video (11:31 min):

  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2019-01-1000-two-apostles-lead-a-virtu al-tour-of-the-rome-italy-temple?lang=eng

Understanding why Temples and ordinances...

Why the endowment

• ●  We all fall short so it’s difficult to comprehend or even imagine how, in our weaknesses, we can ever actually return to God’s presence—it’s simply too big of a leap in our minds.

• ●  God says if you’re willing to make and faithfully keep ordinances with covenants—such as baptism, confirmation, sacrament, etc.—you are now entitled to be taught, step-by-step, how to return to His presence.

• ●  The endowment is a story—it’s your story and my story—on how God brings His children back into His presence, as He promised to do when He introduced His plan to us in the premortal life.

  What are you expecting?

• ●  What have you heard about the temple?

• ●  Have you heard that it’s very different or ceremonial?

  Why do we even have temples?

• ●  Why do you think what we do in the temple is so different than what we do in a chapel?

• ●  What’s the difference between being secret and sacred?

  Why does God have us perform physical or mechanical rituals or ordinances?

• ●  Why don’t we just go in the woods and give our hearts to Jesus? (faith is action)

• ●  Why a physical act or ritual? (we remember better when we do)

• ●  Why do we perform mechanical actions like go down into water, have hands placed on

  our head, or partake of bread and water? (symbolism teaches us)

  How are we dual beings? (we all have a body and spirit)

• ●  How does our body help our spirit? (fasting)

• ●  How does our spirit help our bodies? (avoid addictions)

  How does God teach us through ordinances?

• ●  How do physical or bodily actions help us? (we remember, we feel, we learn)

• ●  How do covenants strengthen our spirit? (our commitment is deep inside us)

  What are covenants? Why are covenants so important?

• ●  Can we negotiate with God? (“I’ll pay my tithing if you’ll help me get a good job”) No!

• ●  Why are we willing to accept God’s terms? (D&C 130:7 “All things...past, present and

  future...are continually before the Lord” so He knows what’s best for us)

  Mosiah 18:8-9 - Prime example of how God’s terms are better than we can even imagine

• ●  What do members agree to do? (come into fold, mourn with others, comfort others,

  stand as a witness)

• ●  What does God agree to do? (redeemed of God, first resurrection, eternal life) Wow! He makes us promises beyond what we would have even imagined!

Inside the Temple

In the living ordinance interview, the stake president is encouraged to be more explicit about what exactly happens in the temple to help reduce fears or concerns.

Main Entrance

• ●  Enter the temple with your escort and a pair of temple garments (do not wear yet)

• ●  You or someone will scan your living ordinance temple recommend

• ●  The attached right portion of recommend will be removed for recording

• ●  Enter a men’s or women’s locker room

  Men or Women’s Locker Room

• ●  You will dress completely in white

• ●  You will be introduced to Initiatory or Washing and Anointing ordinance—the first part

  of the Endowment ceremony—in the Initiatory room adjacent to the locker room

• ●  Males workers administer to men, female workers administer to women

  Steps of Initiatory Ordinance: first part of the Endowment Ceremony 1. Washing

  a) The Officiator uses only a few droplets of water, not immersed in a font
  b) Why would God want us washed? (no unclean thing can enter His presence)
  c) Does this make us pure? (God sees and treats us as we will become - D&C 130:7)

  It’s a reminder that even though we’re not perfect when we enter the temple, God wants us to see how He sees us—not as we are, but as we will become (D&C 130:7).

  2. Anointing
  a) With what are we typically anointed in the Church? (consecrated olive oil)
  b) Why olive oil? (symbol of Garden of Gethsemane, which was an olive orchard) c) Olive press applies extraordinary force to get a droplet of oil out of the olive;

  When it first comes out it’s red, then turns the clear color we see. Why? (reminds

  Us of the price Jesus paid for us)
  c) Oil used to anoint the king of Israel (1 Samuel 15:1-7; 16:12-13)

3. Temple Garment
a) Did your bishop read to you the statement on temple garments?
b) If so, what is the purpose of temple garments? (protection)
c) How can the temple garments protect us? (spiritually, reminder of covenants)

Rest of Endowment Ceremony

• ●  Enter an instruction room with seating by gender plus an altar and a curtain in front.

• ●  Why seating by gender? (all ordinances, except sealing, are made between God and

  individuals; no distinction or preference to married couples)

• ●  Much of the ceremony is on video; it’s a narrative of God’s plan including: (1) premortal life; (2) creation of the earth; (3) purpose of a garden; (4) how and why the Fall of Adam and Eve; (5) why a Savior is needed and how he reverses the effects of the Fall.

• ●  You will be invited to make covenants with regard to: (1) Law of Obedience; (2) Law of Sacrifice; (3) Law of the Gospel; (4) Law of Chastity; and (5) Law of Consecration.

• ●  Covenants represent steps back to the presence of God.

• ●  As part of the symbolism, very simple ceremonial clothing is used, but you will never

  remove clothing or be immodest. Did you view video about Sacred Temple Clothing?

• ●  At the end of the ceremony you will be introduced to a veil. (a) What would be the symbolism of a veil? (Something you pass through that causes a change) (b) Have you ever been through a veil before? (Yes, when I was born) (c) What was the effect? (Forgot premortal life with God) (d) What do you think a veil at the end of this ceremony would represent? (death) (e) You then go into the most beautiful room in the temple.
  (f) What is that room? (Celestial Room) (g) What would it represent? (entering into God’s presence)

• ●  There you will be welcomed into the loving embrace of those you invited to participate in the ceremony with you. You will love the Spirit you will feel there.

• ●  It’s here you can ask all the questions you want of your family and friends.

  It really is a most wonderful experience as we stand in awe of the power and beauty of God’s plan to bring His children back into His presence.

  After answering questions from the candidate, conduct a Temple Recommend interview. We learn in the Temple how God instructs us

  Some find the temple experience so different and wonder why so. The account in 3 Nephi 11 illustrates well how God uses all the senses to teach His children.

  11:3-7 - Hearing: “...they did open their ears”
  11:8 - Sight: “...they cast their eyes upward”
  11:14-15 - Touch: “...that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands” 11:16 - Speak: “...they did cry out with one accord”